Brendan Jamison was commissioned by Ove Arup & Partners International to create a portrait of their founder. The entire artwork has been created from recycled bottle tops, collected by staff during recycling week in September 2019. Jamison cut and carved the bottle caps to create the distinctive features of his face. 

With headquarters in London, the company was founded in 1946 by Sir Ove Arup (1895-1988), design engineer for architectural icons such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Sidney Opera House. Ove Arup & Partners International has over 14,000 staff in 92 offices worldwide, making it one of the largest engineering companies on the planet.

On the lower left of the portrait, a quote by Ove Arup reads:  

"We must look beyond the narrow object and ask ourselves: What would happen if everybody else did what we do. Would that serve humanity?”

“Much has been destroyed already...but the alarm has sounded...The battle is on, and it is a crucial battle for mankind” - Ove Arup

The plastic lids used in the artwork were collected by staff during recycling week in September 2019 and the portrait was created by the artist Brendan Jamison.